Your favorite living composer.

[bachbrahmsschubert]

I've been getting into Frederic Rzewski's music lately and it made me realize how little I know about my contemporaries.

Rattle off your favorite living composers, or ones that recently died, and let's try to compile a nice list.

[nikolasideris]

https://www.kellymariemurphy.com/

Kelly Marie Murphy is my recent discovery! I just adore her 'Give me Phoenix Wings to fly' which can be found somewhere in her page... Brilliant Canadian composer and I am hoping that she'll gain more attention as she grows older!

And she's very pretty too!

___________________________

Then there's Andy Sigler (Andrew... ok). A great composer with one foot on the classical world and the other on the commercial world (like me probably). He's done some great works recently and is about to have his works published by Editions Musica Ferrum.

Here's his 'Sparrows Jump nine Sandpipers' in youtube style:

(chair sound in 0:08 is NOT in the score! ).

A very active work of ensemble work, don't you agree?

____________________________

Then there's also Michel R. Edward... Another brilliant Canadian composer! I've been in love with his cello sonata (+ piano) for as long as it came out a few years ago. Here's a computer mockup (not too shabby though) of the work: https://www.dosblanc.ca/music/cello_sonata/cello_sonata.mp3

his website can be found here: https://www.dosblanc.ca

I do hope to attract him to publish his works through EMF as well! but all in due time I guess

_____________________

and from Greece, since I'm Greek...

You can find more info about myself in various parts of the forum and perhaps the signature, BUT

There's this AMAZING Greek composer, named Michalis Travlos! A brilliant guy, living in the outskirts of Athens he's done some great works... Plus he's really attached with technology and its tools.

Check his soundcloud page: https://soundcloud.com/michael-tra And listen to his concerto for 2 pianos (performed in Germany I think), and his miniature for piano (since this is pianostreet) which has a more 'Greek sound'!

Amazing stuff!

[49410enrique]

gosh where do i begin, not an exhaustive list but three just off the top of my head

in no particular order (i am also working on at least a single work by each of these this year):
masashi hamautzu (fyi just in case, he's the guy working with the pianist on interpretation for a recording they released a couple years ago)

yoko shimomura (piano -hiroyuki nakayama) , this piece is fiendishly difficult vs some of the others in the collection

nobuo uematsu (piano again and the arranger is hiroyuki nakayama), i'm just now reading through this prelude

[bachbrahmsschubert]

Great posts! Thank you for the links. I'll be sure to listen when I have more time.

Another two that come to mind are Morten Lauridsen (although fairly well known, I should have mentioned in the first post as he teaches virtually down the street from me) and Jennifer Higdon who may be a little lesser known than Mr. Lauridsen.

Don't feel restricted by piano music, but I don't think I need to say that we should keep it in the classical realm.

Jolly good time!

[iratior]

I don't know, is Tom Lehrer still living?  His songs were just about the most creative things written by a living composer, after the death of Janis Joplin.  The accompaniment to "Vatican Rag" is a worthwhile addition to any pianist's repertoire.

[pytheamateur]

No-one has mentioned Philip Glass?  I learnt a new word with him: his music is called minimalist.  Isn't it just a jargon word for repetitive?  I once even thought Chopin's music was repetitive.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

I've been getting into Frederic Rzewski's music

How the heck do you manage to get a piano to sound like a cotton mill?!

[redbaron]

No-one has mentioned Philip Glass? 

I was tempted to mention Philip Glass but then I thought that there'd be no point. People would leap on it and the insults would start to fly.

[j_menz]

No-one has mentioned Philip Glass?  

The question is about composers, not circus ponies. 

I was tempted to mention Philip Glass but then I thought that there'd be no point. People would leap on it and the insults would start to fly.

Sorry to be so predictable. 

[symphonicdance]

How the heck do you manage to get a piano to sound like a cotton mill?!

Not sure if this is Rzweski's original idea, but even if not, I think he is genius enough to borrow such technique and sound effect to create Winnsboro Cotton Mill Blues, such a wonderful and difficult piece!  I'm still learning/exploring to play with my forearms (and elbows!)...

[symphonicdance]

Like:
Rzweski, Kapustin

Explore / Learn to appreciate:
Glass, Adams, Corigliano, Rautavaara, Sculthorpe, Gorecki (d. 2010), Dello Joio (d. 2008)

[j_menz]

Can I also put in an honourable mention for Ross Edwards.

His Dawn Mantras is really quite something.

He also has a Piano Concerto. I attended one of it's early performances, but I understand it has since been revised.

[redbaron]

Slag off Philip Glass all you want, this thread has VIDEO GAME MUSIC in it. Some people clearly need to get their musical priorities right and sure as hell ain't me.

[lovevision]

[49410enrique]

i like music that happens to be 'video game' in origin. big whooping deal. music is music, i don't hate on people that like stuff i'm not into.  i don't try to make a point that modern media composition (be it movie score, etc) is somehow of greater artistic merit thanthe  ' classical tradition', i like things i enjoy listening to and playing and that i think sound pretty and fun sometimes its artistic music by the masters of the past, sometimes it's a movie tune, or video game theme arranged for piano solo, or a pop tune, or classic rock, etc etc etc.  i really don't waste energy beyond that.

although i will make the point that to somehow belittle media compositions as being anyless worthy of appreciation is a pretty snooty attitude. i have no idea how anyone making such a judgement can objectively know that the artistis that create and perform these works are any less passionate about or devote less time and hard work/effort towards realizing their musical goals. .

[j_menz]

Slag off Philip Glass all you want, this thread has VIDEO GAME MUSIC in it. Some people clearly need to get their musical priorities right and sure as hell ain't me.

I'm the one who slagged of Glass, not enrique.

I'm as guilty as anyone of the snootiness enrique (probably rightly) complains of, but I still find Glass a pretentious, boring twiddler and not a composer of note or interest.

[49410enrique]

I'm the one who slagged of Glass, not enrique.

I'm as guilty as anyone of the snootiness enrique (probably rightly) complains of, but I still find Glass a pretentious, boring twiddler and not a composer of note or interest.

no worries, my remarks were more in general with an attitude the sort of generically dismisses an entire genre without actual consideration of the talent and work that might go into it, vs. say not really being into a particular composer's work or musical style, i don't find that snooty, so much as it is simply being vocal about one's musical taste.  i took more issue with putting down an entire 'class' of music simply on the pretense of what it is (originally composed) for (i specify since originally composed for, and arranged for piano solo performance are two distinct musical goals, i.e. same thematic material perhaps, but different musical goals in my lowly 'video game' submissions to the discussion).

even when i don't like a particualr style or even the majority of a composer's output i'll sometimes still enjoy (even if only when the mood strikes) a single work or part of a work...., i still find value in the contribution to the repertoire and can appreciate the 'artistry' even if i don't really understand it sometimes.

i'm not trying to pick fights or harp on anyone in particular, i guess the way the music was put down did more to prompt that than anything. i probably would have reacted much differently (or not reaction at all), if the post had read more along the lines of, i don't care much for hamautzu's sound becuase i don' tend to like satie, or jazz, etc., then we'd be having a discussion on taste, subjective reactions. and that's totally cool. i think we need people that like glass, that like ______(insert whatever composer), sometimes new musical directions and as pianists, our interpretations, can spring from a reaction against something vs becuase of or towards something.

i'm long winded tonight, don't mind me, i'm exhausted and rambling...

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Does anyone know how to find sheet music of living composers? 

IMSLP doesn't have them because they're not dead yet.

[j_menz]

Does anyone know how to find sheet music of living composers? 

IMSLP doesn't have them because they're not dead yet.

IMSLP does have some living composers who put their music up under a creative commons license (basically non-commercial use).

Notable amongst them is Rzewsky, though mostly in manuscript.

[nikolasideris]

Does anyone know how to find sheet music of living composers? 

IMSLP doesn't have them because they're not dead yet.

Exactly! Thing is that IMSLP (used to) attach a CC license which is not nice for some people. My scores were online at some point, but I withdrew them.

Various composers might actually offer their scores, others are published and some are self published. It's worth checking for a particular score in youtube, or somewhere in order to trace back where you can find the score. My youtube videos all have a link to the publishing house and the page to buy the score(s), for example.

[thalbergmad]

All the best composers are dead.

Most ones that are alive are either plinkers or idiots, or both.

Thal

[ahinton]

All the best composers are dead.

Most ones that are alive are either plinkers or idiots, or both.

How kind, O Banjolier!

Best,

Alistair

[nikolasideris]

All the best composers are dead.

Most ones that are alive are either plinkers or idiots, or both.

Oh yes... how kind indeed... 

And how boring at the same time... the same thing again and again across forums...

[thalbergmad]

Oops, someone it appears is plinked off with me.

Thal

[revanyoda777]

Since the topic says 'favorite living composer' I think enrique has a right to list his favorite whether it's video game music or even free form jazz. What a coincidence! because Masashi Hamauzu is without a doubt my favorite living composer as well! I could'nt care less whether the music is from a video game or a tv show; if I like it, and find myself attracted to it then it should'nt really matter. His works have an impressionistic shell and structure (Like Debussy) while the inside of his works are closely controlled and mathematic (like Bach).

Attached is a piano piece by Hamauzu from his album Vielen Dank. Set in Theme and Variations form. it is whimsical, and  fun, and almost sounds Chopinesqe to a degree.

And Enrique was right about Hamauzu's style bieng reminescent to Erik Satie, it does have that impressionistic aura, so if you don't really care for Satie, or Debussy you probably would'nt like this either.

Oh, and my favorite living classical composer would have to be John Adams. I typically don't go for minimallism but I find his music to not be as redundant and repetitive as some other contemporary composers. Phrygian Gates is one of my favorites; the transition to different modes and modulations are very pleasing to the ear.

[speedcuber]

i don't know why he has not been mentioned until now: john williams!

[nikolasideris]

i don't know why he has not been mentioned until now: john williams!

I know that everyone thinks differently, but in my case I thought of composers people didn't really know and need the promotion. Williams is a GREAT composer (with capital lettering), but he doesn't really need my help to get his name around!

But yes, Williams is one of the greats of our time!

[rv]

Only narrow minded fools believe that great music can only be found within the genre of music that is often labelled as "classical" or "modern classical". There is so much more.

[zezhyrule]

Masashi Hamauzu is without a doubt my favorite living composer as well!

Ah yes, I love Hamauzu. FFXIII has such amazing music, and FFXIII-2's is even better in many ways. I know he left Square-Enix now, but I still hope he makes a Piano Collections for FFXIII-2 since that game had some of my favorite FF music since FFIX. 

[thorn]

Dai Fujikura. He is also a really nice, genuine person.

His instrumental works may offend some on here, but listen to something like the Piano Etude "Deepened Arc" on Youtube which is gorgeous.

[perpetual_dan]

I'm quite fond of a lot of modern music, Glass included. Not yet mentioned, I've enjoyed playing Peter Maxwell Davies a lot.

[thalbergmad]

Werner Heider - top quality.

Thal

[ahinton]

Werner Heider - top quality.

Interesting! I'd somehow have thought that his Drei Fantasien über Spirituals (1955), with the movement titles Somebody’s knockin' at your door, I’m troubled in mind, Joshua fit de battle of Jericho, Who’ll be a witness for my Lord, Listen to the Lambs [what price the silence thereof?] and, last but by no means least, Sinner, please don’t let this harvest pass, would be way too pianistemotional for you and, apart from Musik-Geschichte (1982), there seem to be precious few works for piano and orchestra in his output that one might assume possibly to be capable of attracting the interest of our Thal of Romantic piano concerto fame...

I write this while partially distracted by a picture of Gabriela Montero – Uniting the Worlds of Composition and Improvisation above; whether or not that may be fortuitous in the present context and circumstances I have absolutely no idea...

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

there seem to be precious few works for piano and orchestra in his output that one might assume possibly to be capable of attracting the interest of our Thal of Romantic piano concerto fame...

My interest was aroused by finding the score to "Bezirk" on one of my hunts. The notation looked a bit weird as if there was an earthquake when the composer was writing it down.

There is a recording on youtube and it is so far removed from my usual fare, that I almost enjoyed it.

Thal

[pianowolfi]

pianistemotional

hahahahaha!   I got it! pianistemotional!!
LOL!

*dances around*

[ted]

My vote still goes to David. I see he has posted a few new good ones on youtube along with some of his art:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InHs5ATEOOE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJBMsjF2bnw&feature=relmfu

[bachbrahmsschubert]

Thank you for the great posts, everyone! I've written down all of the unfamiliar names.

With your continued help, it may be possible to cure my ignorance. It's worth a try!

[jdledell]

I too am really put off by people who refuse to consider modern music as worthwhile. Here are three modern composers whose music ALL my students love to play:
1 - Yann Tiersen
2 - Ludvico Einaudi
3 - Yiruma

[ahinton]

All the best composers are dead.

But they weren't when they were composing...

Most ones that are alive are...idiots, or

Elliotts?...

Anent which, let's not forget the now rather well-worn joke about Elliott Carter who is still composing when most people his age are doing the opposite; of course it doesn't have quite the currency that it once did, because there are very few people of his age around today anyway...

Now, Thal - Mr Piano Concerto as ever was - do try Carter's little concerto called Conversations, written when he was a slip of a lad of 101; it's for piano, percussion and orchestra and, in its original form, is a mere 7 minutes or so although, since its world première at Aldeburgh last year, Oliver Knussen has persuaded him to write two very brief prelude-like movements to append to the beginning of it (one for percussion and orchestra, the other for piano and orchestra) which he has since done and the whole work - which receives its première next month, now bears the rather cumbersome title Two Controversies and a Conversation. I'm sure you'll enjoy it! There were so many sidelong hints at C minor that I began to wonder if it had somehow been invaded by K491! (but then maybe I shouldn't be so surprised at that, since Carter has said that he's not been especially influenced by any other composers except perhaps Mozart)...

Best,

Alistair

[cadenza14224]

As much as I despise the games...the music is simply amazing. Nobuo Uematsu!

[pies]

a

[fftransform]

Single favorite living composer?  I couldn't possibly do that: the list is too long.  Possible candidates for a top 10 might be Barrett, Dumitrescu, Andre, Adamek, Taira, Kratzschmar, Gervasoni, Hurel, Oehring, Casale, Nicolaou, Corridore, Fineberg, Jarrell, Zagaykevich, Grippe, Kyburz, Parra, Sciarrino, Flammer, Teglbjaerg, Jodlowski, Rihm, Manoury, Dohmen, Pape, Hodgkinson, Mirzoev . . .

Ok, that's enough.

[thalbergmad]

do try Carter's little concerto called Conversations

I have now listened to this, whilst scanning something considerably superior.

It moves me not and I submit it would sound just as good played backwards.

Thal

[ahinton]

I have now listened to this, whilst scanning something considerably superior.

Which Carter work was that, just out of interest?

It moves me not and I submit it would sound just as good played backwards.

Submit you may - and if indeed it moves you not, then so be it - but at least you've tried it, although sadly with what appears to have been insufficient regard and/or concentration to enable you to discover that in fact it would sound quite different played backwards (especially in the new version which is due for première in around a month's time!). I appreciate your recourse to the phrase "just as good", however; that's at least something of a positive sign!

I hope that you'll still be performing your valuable music scanning service when you're also 103 years of age, by which time generations of musicians, scholars and others will have become indebted to you for this sterling service...

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

Which Carter work was that, just out of interest?

No Carter, just Victor Alphonse Duvernoy

Boringly, the CPS does have an original of the Carter Conversations as I did a blitz on American works for Piano & Orchestra. I don't think I will be playing through it.

I have precious little public domain works left to scan, so I expect to be retired in 3 years and just collect originals.

Thal

[marik1]

I have precious little public domain works left to scan...

Some Schumann, for example?

Best, M

[ahinton]

No Carter, just Victor Alphonse Duvernoy

Boringly, the CPS does have an original of the Carter Conversations as I did a blitz on American works for Piano & Orchestra. I don't think I will be playing through it.

I have precious little public domain works left to scan, so I expect to be retired in 3 years and just collect originals.

I have little doubt, however, that you'll find more and more public domain material that you think to be worth scanning and making available; apart from any other considerations, the 70-year rule that governs what is in copyright and what is in public domain is a movable (or rather moving) feast so, with each year that passes, another year's worth of material new to the public domain will become available to you to scan and distribute legitimately (subject, of course, to publishers' interests where appropriate).

Best,

Alistair

[marik1]

I listen to the modern composers quite a bit (if anything else, just at least to be in the loop), although it seems I won't be able to play quite a bit of that (will leave to people who sight reads much better and learn music much faster than me). 

I'd put on the list Penderecky (although IMHO, his latest piano concerto is not exactly a masterpiece), Giya Kancheli, Milton Babbitt (died last year), Michael Finnissy, Rzewski, Elliott Carter, Corigliano, George Cramb, Henry Dutilleux (whose Sonata I'd love to play some day), Karl Vine.

Best, M

[thalbergmad]

Some Schumann, for example?

Best, M

Perhaps some Georg eventually. No Robert.

Thal

[ahinton]

Perhaps some Georg eventually. No Robert.

But come on, Thal, let's face it - you simply don't seem to HAVE a "favourite living composer" (especially because, as you claim, all the best ones are dead, even though they weren't at the time that they were at work)...

Best,

Alistair